Revelation Ch 20

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Today is July 31st, and today we are looking at Revelation chapter 20, verses 1 through 15. It's hard to believe that we only have a few more days to go in the meditation and the reading of the book of Revelation. And I must say that this has been a real joy for me as it was the very first time that I actually shared the entire book of Revelation with a church. And it has been a great learning experience as I prepare for each day of the reading and the meditation of this wonderful and unique book, the book of Revelation, the last book of the 66 books of the Bible. So let's uh let's dive in. Uh today uh the passage is Revelation chapter 20, verses 1 through 15. Now, here uh John records uh the vision of three things uh uh thousand years, the final judgment and the ultimate defeat of Satan. The thousand years, the final judgment, and the ultimate defeat of Satan. Verse one. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he sees the dragon, the that ancient uh serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit and shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Now, verses one through three describe an angel descending uh from heaven, seizing the dragon or Satan, and binding him for a thousand years. This binding uh symbolizes the restriction of Satan's power to deceive the nations um in the same way uh as before uh Christ's coming. As uh G.K. Beale uh explains, this period, um the thousand years, represents the current church age. This is a time uh in in which the gospel goes forth to all nations, even as Satan remains active but restrained. Um verses uh four through six portray the saints uh uh reigning with Christ during this symbolic millennium. So it's not literal thousand years, but a symbolic thousand years. And so we know that it's been like at least a couple of thousand years so far. So those who were faithful unto death are said to have part in the first resurrection, and this is not a bodily resurrection yet, uh, but a spiritual reality. Believers who die are immediately present with Christ, reigning with him in heaven. Um after the thousand years, Satan is released for a short time, verses seven through ten. He gathers the nations for a final rebellion, but uh fire come down, comes down from heaven, and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever. Finally, John sees a great white throne, verses 11 through 15. The dead, the great and small, stand before God as books are opened, including the book of life, and those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. And the scene emphasizes the reality of final judgment and the ultimate vindication of God's justice. Um let's dig a little deeper. Uh who is God? God is once again the sovereign ruler of history who binds Satan and limits his power according to God's will. It is important to emphasize that God and Satan are not in a cosmic struggle of equals. They're not equal. Satan is a created being under God's authority. Only God is the righteous judge who will bring every deed into account in due time. God's justice is holy and perfect. No one will escape his judgment. At the same time, God is the redeemer and king who vindicates his saints, his people. The first resur first resurrection is a sign of his saving power. They are though there are those who die in Christ, but it's important that to note that they are not defeated. Verse 4, once again, then I saw thrones and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The irony is that they actually reign with the risen Christ. God is the one who ensures that evil is finally and eternally defeated, verses seven through ten, and that his people are secure in his presence forever. And yet our guilt lies in underestimating both the seriousness of sin and the reality of judgment. We often live as though this life is ultimate, ignoring that every person will stand before the great white throne, verses eleven and twelve. We presume upon God's patience, neglecting to prepare for eternity. So we are also guilty of fearing Satan or worldly powers more than trusting God. Revelation 20 shows that Satan's power is temporary and permitted only under God's sovereignty. Yet we often compromise faithfulness out of fear, seeking security in worldly systems rather than in Christ. In this passage, grace shines in the certainty of Christ's victory. Even as Satan is bound for a symbolic thousand years, Christ reigns and his saints share in that reign. The irony of that reign, however, is that we bear the cross with the Christ with the Christ. So we get confused because we don't truly realize what an honor it is that we should be invited to participate in the suffering of the Christ. Overcoming death is the gospel reign, and this is uniquely Christian. Believers who have died in the Lord are already safe with him, and those on earth who belong to Christ are spiritually secure. God's people need not fear because their names are written in the book of life. Grace also shines in the remind a reminder that even the final rebellion of Satan is short-lived and fully under God's control. Scripture warns of a final outbreak of evil. It will be a time marked by deception, rebellion, and persecution. Perhaps the time is here and now. However, we can rest assured that it will not last. Even today we see hints of such rebellion. We see a persistent rejection of God's truth, false ideologies promising salvation apart from Christ, hostility toward biblical truth, and so on. Yet the Bible assures us that these events unfold only within the limits that God sets. Fire ultimately comes down from heaven, and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire forever. Verse 10. Evil's final act is brief and its defeat is certain. So finally, grace shines in the hope of God's final judgment. For believers, this judgment is not something to fear. It is the moment when all wrongs are made right, when justice is perfectly administered, and when death and hell are destroyed forever. Those who belong to Christ can look forward to this day, not with dread, but with hope, knowing that their salvation is secure in the one who conquered death on their behalf. Let us pray. Righteous and sovereign Lord, we praise you for your justice and your power over all things. You are the king who binds Satan, rules history, and will bring all things to their appointed end. Forgive us for living as if this world is all there is, for fearing earthly powers more than trusting you, and for neglecting the reality of final judgment. We confess that our hearts are often divided, seeking comfort in the present rather than holiness for eternity. Thank you that in Christ we are part of the first resurrection, already made alive in Him. Thank you that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that we are secure in your hands always. We do pray, O Lord, that you would strengthen us to persevere in faith and holiness. Help us to live as those who are who already belong to your kingdom, awaiting the day when you will make all things new and evil will be no more. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.